The Batalha Clitoropexy: Shortening an Elongated Clitoris - A Minimally Invasive Technique.

BACKGROUND: Female cosmetic genital surgery is becoming increasingly sought after by women who are concerned with the appearance of their vulva. Labiaplasty for the labia minora is undoubtedly the most commonly performed female cosmetic genital surgery. However, an increasing number of patients seen in our clinics in both Brazil and the United States are presenting with clitoral hypertrophy, specifically clitoral elongation. The elongated clitoris will usually protrude beyond the labia minora and majora and from the patient's perspective will give a less feminine appearance as they will often describe the protruding clitoris as feeling like they have a small penis. The surgical technique described here, Batalha Clitoropexy, is a minimally invasive surgical technique for clitoral length-reduction that does not require amputation or debulking. This technique is presented in the form of the detailed sequential steps needed to achieve satisfactory results. Photos taken before and after the procedure in a representative case show that the clitoral length has been shortened from 5.0 cm to 1.5 cm without the need of an invasive amputation or debulking clitoroplasty. Many patients with clitoromegaly or an elongated protruding clitoris do not need to undergo an invasive clitoroplasty. Specifically, patients with clitoral elongation or clitoral ptosis can be surgically treated with a less-invasive clitoropexy surgical procedure which can restore normal anatomic position to treat a protruding clitoris.

Concussion Risk and Recovery in Athletes With Psychostimulant-Treated Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Findings From the NCAA-DOD CARE Consortium.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -related psychostimulant use in the context of concussion risk and symptom recovery. Data were obtained from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Department of Defense Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (NCAA-DOD CARE) Consortium from 2014 to 2017. Relative to individuals without diagnosed ADHD (i.e., control), both ADHD diagnosis and the combination of ADHD diagnosis and psychostimulant use were associated with a greater risk of incurring a concussive injury. Following a concussive injury, ADHD diagnosis was associated with longer symptom recovery time relative to the control group. However, individuals with ADHD who use psychostimulants did not take longer to resolve symptoms than controls, suggesting that psychostimulants may have a positive influence on recovery. Regardless of time point, ADHD diagnosis was associated with an elevated number of concussion-related symptoms; however, this effect appears mitigated by having used ADHD-related psychostimulants.

The Novel Use of Bipolar Radiofrequency Microneedling in the Treatment of Lichen Sclerosus.

INTRODUCTION: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, distressing, inflammatory process that has a huge impact on quality of life in women. Uncontrolled vulvar LS can lead to chronic symptoms of itching and pain and can lead to anatomic changes, scarring, and elevated risk of cancer. First-line therapy with corticosteroids is often not successful in controlling symptoms, especially over the long term. This is the first study to review the effects of bipolar radiofrequency (RF) with microneedling to treat the vaginal and vulvar symptoms of LS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was initiated due to the recognition of improvement in vulvar skin condition and resolution of lichen sclerosus symptoms in patients who had already failed traditional treatment and underwent radio frequency with microneedling procedures of the vulva, perineum, and perianal regions. Patients were treated with three treatments of bipolar RF and bipolar RF with microneedling four to eight weeks apart. Patient questionnaires were used to assess improvement in the symptoms of LS including itching, tearing of tissue, changes in the appearance and color of tissue, and dryness of skin and mucosa. RESULTS: The data from the questionnaires showed a significant reduction or complete resolution in these symptoms, with 86% of the patients reporting either significant or complete resolution. In the case of itching, which is typically one of the most severe symptoms of LS, 91% of patients reported significant or complete resolution. 87% of patients reported symptom resolution lasting at least six months, with 39% of the patients having results lasting 12 months or more before recurrence. Recurrences can be retreated on an as-needed basis or with annual maintenance therapy consisting typically of just one treatment. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency with microneedling treatments for persistent LS showed significant improvement in LS symptoms. As LS is a chronic recurring condition, the treatment protocol resulted in high patient satisfaction for these women who had not experienced these results in terms of amount of symptom resolution or duration of symptom resolution with prior treatments using topical steroid cream or other modalities.

Hormonal Contraceptives Do Not Influence Concussion Recovery in Collegiate Athletes: Data from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium.

INTRODUCTION: The hormonal withdrawal hypothesis suggests that progesterone reduction in women after concussion may lead to greater symptom burden and longer recoveries. Current evidence indicates that hormonal stability after head injury may be an important moderator of postconcussive recovery. Thus, female athletes using hormonal contraceptives (HC) may exhibit better recovery profiles as their hormone levels are artificially stabilized. Our investigation sought to examine the relation between HC use and concussion outcomes in female student-athletes. METHODS: This longitudinal study examined concussion outcomes from female student-athletes participating in the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium Research Initiative, including academic years 2014 to 2020. Eighty-six female collegiate athletes reporting HC use (HC+) were group matched on age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, sport contact level, concussion history, and current injury characteristics (i.e., amnesia, loss of consciousness) to 86 female collegiate athletes reporting no HC use (HC-). All participants had sustained a concussion and completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, 3rd edition Symptom Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory-18, and Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing at preinjury baseline, 24 to 48 h postinjury, and when cleared for unrestricted return to play. To provide an index of recovery trajectory, days between injury and unrestricted return to play were calculated. RESULTS: Groups did not differ on length of recovery, postconcussion symptoms, psychological health, or cognitive assessments. No differences were observed between groups on any measure when accounting for baseline levels of performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HC use does not influence recovery trajectory, symptoms, or recovery of cognitive function after concussion.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Related Self-Reported Symptoms Are Associated With Elevated Concussion Symptomatology.

The aim of the present investigation was to provide insight into how postconcussion symptomatology may be altered in individuals exhibiting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors and examine factors that may be responsible for driving such relationships. A total of 99 individuals were assessed during the subacute phase of concussion recovery. Inattentive symptomatology, but not diagnosis of ADHD, was related to greater concussion-symptom severity and overall symptoms endorsed. Cluster and factor analyses highlighted that the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and concussion symptomatology was not a function of overlapping constructs being assessed (i.e., concussion-related symptomatology was not a proxy of ADHD-related symptomatology). These relationships were not mediated by parental observations of impairments in behaviors associated with executive functioning (i.e., executive dysfunction was not driving the greater concussion-related symptomatology associated with ADHD-related symptomatology). These findings highlight the importance of moving beyond categorical frameworks of ADHD to, instead, consider the continuum of underlying behaviors.

Long-Term Influence of Concussion on Cardio-Autonomic Function in Adolescent Hockey Players.

CONTEXT: Concussion may negatively influence cardiovascular function and the autonomic nervous system, defined by alteration in heart rate variability (HRV). Differences in HRV most commonly emerge during a physical challenge, such as the final steps of the return-to-sport progression. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of concussion history on aspects of cardio-autonomic function during recovery from a bout of submaximal exercise in adolescent male hockey athletes. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three male athletes participating in Midget-AAA hockey were divided into those with (n = 15; age = 16 ± 1 years, height = 1.78 ± 0.06 m, mass = 73.9 ± 7.4 kg, 10.5 ± 1.6 years of sport experience, 25.2 ± 18.3 months since last injury) or without (n = 18; age = 16 ± 1 years, height = 1.78 ± 0.05 m, mass = 74.8 ± 7.6 kg, 10.6 ± 1.9 years of sport experience) a concussion history. Those with a concussion history were binned on total count: 1 concussion or 2 or more concussions. INTERVENTION(S): All athletes underwent 5 minutes of resting HRV assessment, followed by 20 minutes of aerobic exercise at 60% to 70% of their maximal target heart rate and a 9-minute, postexercise HRV assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Heart rate variability measures of mean NN interval, root mean square of successive differences, and standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN). RESULTS: Group demographic characteristics were not different. When the control and concussed groups were compared, group and time main effects for heart rate recovery, root mean square of successive differences, and SDNN (P values < .01), and an interaction effect for SDNN (P < .05) were demonstrated. Recovery trends for each group indicated that a history of 2 or more concussions may negatively affect cardio-autonomic recovery postexercise. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that those with more than 1 previous concussion may be associated with a greater risk for long-term dysautonomia. Future use of HRV may provide clinicians with objective guidelines for concussion-management and safe return-to-participation protocols.

Recovery Profiles after Concussion among Male Student-Athletes and Service Cadets with a Family History of Neurodegenerative Disease: Data from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium.

Preliminary evidence indicates that genetic factors associated with having a family history of neurodegenerative disease (fhNDD) may predispose an individual to persistent symptoms and poorer cognitive performance after concussion. No previous study, however, longitudinally examined athletes with (+) and without (-) a fhNDD. Therefore, we aimed to compare clinical symptoms and cognitive performance of fhNDD+ and fhNDD- athletes at baseline and at multiple time points after concussion. Questionnaire data from the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium were used to identify male athletes and cadets with (n = 51) and without (n = 102) a fhNDD (Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, mild cognitive impairment, and non-Alzheimer dementia). All athletes completed the SCAT3 symptom checklist and ImPACT test before their sport season and again within 24-48 h of injury, at the unrestricted return-to-play, and at six months post-concussion. Compared with fhNDD-, fhNDD+ individuals demonstrated greater decrements in visual memory (relative to baseline) 24-48 h post-injury (p < 0.05, d = 0.18). In addition, a main effect of group was observed for impulse control. Compared with fhNDD- athletes, fhNDD+ individuals demonstrated greater decrements in impulse control, 24-48 h post-injury, at the return to play, and at six-month assessments (p < 0.01, d = 0.23). These findings suggest that male athletes with a fhNDD may exhibit greater decrements in cognitive performance after concussion. Small, subtle deficits in cognitive performance may still significantly hinder day-to-day function in student-athletes.

Diffuse skeletal muscle extramedullary plasmacytomas: a rare case and review of the literature.

Extramedullary plasmacytomas are rare neoplasms arising from proliferations of monoclonal plasma cells. In primary form, these malignancies occur without other sites of plasma cell disease. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytomas occur in association with multiple myeloma and may be discovered during initial intramedullary disease or may occur during multiple myeloma relapse. In very rare instances, secondary extramedullary plasmacytomas have multifocal skeletal muscle involvement. We present a case of multifocal skeletal muscle plasmacytomas in a 58-year-old man with shoulder-reduced range of motion, pain, and a history of previously treated multiple myeloma. To our knowledge, the patient's unique relapse presentation of torso and shoulder soft tissue masses and the vast extent of skeletal muscle involvement are unique to cases in the current literature. This case also has MRI findings of a muscular plasmacytoma with internal hemorrhage which has not been previously reported. This case report will review imaging features and clinical presentations of intramuscular extramedullary plasmacytomas. Since imaging surveillance for multiple myeloma relapse is commonly performed, radiologists should be aware of these uncommon relapsing features including multifocal intramuscular masses which may contain internal hemorrhage.

Sensitivity of the Cogstate Test Battery for Detecting Prolonged Cognitive Alterations Stemming From Sport-Related Concussions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the Cogstate test battery contains the requisite sensitivity to detect prolonged cognitive alterations. METHODS: One hundred twenty collegiate athletes (71 with a history of concussion; 49 controls) completed the Cogstate test battery, to which we added a 2-back condition. In addition to the Cogstate clinical (transformed variables), we analyzed the raw data. RESULTS: The clinical variables failed to reveal any group differences. Further, although the raw data failed to reveal group differences for tasks measuring lower-level cognition, group differences were observed for accuracy on the 1- and 2-back tasks, which require multiple aspects of higher cognition. The overall classification accuracy was higher using the raw data than the clinical variables. The combined sensitivity of the 1- and 2-back task was moderate and specificity was high. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that using the raw scores over clinical variables increases the sensitivity of the test battery. Moreover, these results add another piece of evidence suggesting that concussive injuries are associated with subtle long-term alterations in aspects of higher cognition. Importantly, these deficits would have gone unobserved if we had relied solely on automated clinical variables. The current results further our scientific understanding of concussion and may be used to advance clinical practices.

Concomitant Laparoscopic Burch Urethropexy and Combined Vaginal-Laparoscopic Mesh Sling Removal (x2) for Pain and Persistent Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Although midurethral mesh tape slings are considered the standard of care in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), complications such as pain, dyspareunia, or erosion are known to occur in addition to persistent incontinence. The management of these types of mesh sling complications can be very complex, especially when the pain is not just isolated to the vagina but extends into other areas, such as the abdomen which requires a much more extensive dissection. Additionally, if a mesh sling needs to be removed, the patient will most likely have a return of her SUI that often necessitates subsequent treatment. Vaginal and/or laparoscopic removal or revision of mesh tape slings should be considered in patients presenting with complications such as vaginal pain, abdominal pain, dyspareunia, or urinary obstructive symptoms. In those patients who demonstrate persistent SUI, concomitant laparoscopic Burch urethropexy can be considered and can safely be performed at the time mesh removal. In this case report we present a patient who required a dual-approach removal of two painful midurethral slings in addition to concomitant treatment of persistent SUI with a laparoscopic Burch urethropexy procedure.

The Indication and Surgical Treatment of 286 Midurethral Synthetic Sling Complications: A Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: 1) Evaluate the most common indication for sling removal in patients with synthetic mesh slings; 2) identify the location of pain for each of the three types of synthetic sling procedures including retropubic (RP) sling, transobturator (TOT) sling, and single incision slings (SIS), and 3) describe the surgical approach to each of the above and its associated complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgical removal of a sling due to a mesh-related complications from 2011 to 2013 at three referral centers. RESULTS: There were 337 sling complications followed by the IUGA/ICS mesh complication classification. RP slings were more likely to have urinary tract complications (category 4) and intra-abdominal site complications (S5). Of those, 286 slings were removed, 106 (37.1%) were RP, 131 (45.8%) TOT, and 44 (15.4%) SIS. Vaginal pain was the most common reason for sling removal. Twenty-one percent of the TOT had groin pain which was a five times higher risk than RP (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.5-18.7), and the RP was three times more likely to have suprapubic pain than the TOT (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.3-7.0). Fifteen percent of the TOT had either unilateral or bilateral groin mesh removal. CONCLUSION: The most common indication for sling removal was vaginal pain. RP sling had a higher risk of suprapubic pain and TOT sling had a higher risk of groin pain. Patients with a history of SIS had a higher incidence of urethral erosion. TOT removal had the highest intraoperative complication rate.

Indications and Complications Associated with the Removal of 506 Pieces of Vaginal Mesh Used in Pelvic Floor Reconstruction: A Multicenter Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Synthetic mesh utilized to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can often result in postoperative complications. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the most common indications for mesh removal; 2) the incidences of the removal of specific mesh procedures (such as suburethral sling [SUS], transvaginal mesh [TVM], or sacrocolpopexy); and 3) the idences and types of surgical complications associated with mesh removal. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. Design Classification: Canadian Task Force II-3. SETTING: Three tertiary referral centers in the United States. PATIENTS: We examined data from all patients at the three centers who underwent surgical removal of synthetic materials from previous SUS, TVM, and sacrocolpopexy procedures for mesh-related complications from 2011 to 2013. INTERVENTION: Patients underwent vaginal, intra-abdominal, and inguinal mesh revisions by cutting, partial removal, or total removal of the mesh for mesh-related complications. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Overall, 445 patients with complications underwent mesh removal laparoscopically, via groin dissection and/or transvaginally. There were a total of 506 mesh products removed. Of these, 56.5% were slings and 43.5% were for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Synthetic mesh removed from patients included: transvaginal mesh (TVM) anterior for anterior vaginal prolapse, TVM posterior for posterior vaginal prolapse, sacrocolpopexy mesh, and suburethral slings (SUS) for stress urinary incontinence. Synthetic SUS removed included: retropubic (RPS), transobturator (TOT), and single-incision slings (SIS). TOT was the most common type of sling removed. Patients with a sling who only complained of vaginal pain with or without intercourse underwent a vaginal approach for surgical revision/removal of the sling (86.6%). Patients with an RPS with lower abdominal/suprapubic pain and vaginal pain underwent a vaginal and laparoscopic approach for sling removal (18.4%). Patients with a TOT sling who complained of vaginal and groin pain underwent a vaginal and inguinal approach for sling removal (4.3%). In patients who had POP mesh removal, 42.3% had an anterior TVM, 30.6% had a posterior TVM, 14% had both anterior and posterior TVMs, and 13.1% underwent sacrocolpopexy mesh removal. Complications encountered during mesh revision/removal surgery were: two blood transfusions from complete RPS removal (vaginal and laparoscopic approach), three urethral injuries during TOT sling removal (vaginal approach), two ureteral injuries during anterior vaginal wall mesh removal, and two rectal injuries during posterior vaginal wall mesh removal. All injuries were repaired at the time of mesh removal without recurrence. CONCLUSION: In our study, the most common indication for mesh removal was pain with or without intercourse. The most common mesh procedure resulting in removal was the TOT sling. Use of a vaginal approach only for sling removal had the lowest incidence of intraoperative complications. Laparoscopic RPS removal had the highest incidence of required blood transfusions, anterior TVM had the highest incidence of ureteral injury, and posterior TVM had the highest incidence of rectal injury. Overall, sling, TVM, and sacrocolpopexy mesh removal are safe procedures when performed by experienced surgeons.

Transcutaneous Temperature Controlled Radiofrequency (TTCRF) for the Treatment of Menopausal Vaginal/Genitourinary Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of non-ablative, monopolar transcutaneous temperature controlled radiofrequency (TTCRF) technology in the treatment of postmenopausal women suffering from genuine stress urinary incontinence (SUI) related to menopause and to evaluate histological changes vaginally associated with the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjective and objective symptoms of SUI were assessed in study subjects before and after TTCRF, (1 treatment every 30 days, for 3 months; n=10) and compared with the effects of a placebo treatment on a control group of demographically similar women (n =10). SUI was subjectively evaluated with subjective Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) before and after TTCRF treatments and objectively with cough stress test. Vaginal health was evaluated with the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) score and visual analogue score (VAS) for dyspareunia and dryness. Punch biopsies were obtained at the urethra-vesical junction in the anterior compartment, before and at the end of the treatment protocol. Basic and histochemical staining methods were used. RESULTS: In subjects suffering SUI, TTCRF treatment was associated with a significant (p<0.01) improvement of ICIQ-SF and UDI-6 scores. Seven of 10 patients (70%) had a negative cough stress test after the treatment protocol. Improvements were maintained up to the 12th week of follow-up. The results were supported by the positive histologic changes seen vaginally in women suffering from postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. TTCRF was well tolerated with no complications reported in study patients. CONCLUSION: TTCRF treatment in postmenopausal women suffering from SUI showed significant improvement in both objective and subjective symptoms. Vaginal health scores also improved as did VAS for dryness and dyspareunia. We feel these improvements were related to histological changes related to improvement in vaginal atrophy that were not observed in placebo patients.

Laparoscopic Repair of Enterocervical Fistula After Mesh Erosion Into the Sigmoid Colon and Cervix After Robotic Supracervical Hysterectomy and Sacrocervicopexy.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss risk factors and describe laparoscopic management of an unusual late complication of sacrocolpopexy mesh erosion resulting in enterocervical fistula after supracervical hysterectomy and robotic sacrocervicopopexy. CASE: We report on a unique case of a long-term mesh complication after robotic supracervical hysterectomy and polypropylene mesh sacrocervicopexy. Four years after the procedure, the patient was found to have mesh extrusion through the cervical os as well as mesh erosion into the sigmoid colon with a connecting enterocervical fistula. CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic approach was used successfully to address the complications. The case is unique because of the success of minimally invasive surgery in its management and multiple sites of erosion with a connecting fistula.

The IUGA/ICS classification of synthetic mesh complications in female pelvic floor reconstructive surgery: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to report patterns of sling and transvaginal mesh-related complications using the IUGA/ICS classification of prosthesis-related complications. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgical removal of sling, transvaginal mesh, and sacrocolpopexy for mesh-related complications from 2011 to 2013 at three tertiary referral centers. The International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) classification system was utilized. RESULTS: We identified 445 patients with mesh complications, 506 pieces of synthetic mesh were removed, and 587 prostheses-related complications were classified. 3.7 % of patients had viscus organ penetration or vaginal exposure as their presenting chief complaint and 59.7 % were classified as not having any vaginal epithelial separation or category 1. The most common category was spontaneous pain (1Be: 32.5 %) followed by dyspareunia (1Bc: 14.7 %). The sling group was 20 % more likely to have pain compared with the pelvic organ prolapse (POP) mesh group (OR 1.2, 95 % CI 0.8-1.6). The most commonly affected site (S2) was away from the suture line (49 %). Compared with the sling group, the POP group had a higher rate of mesh exposure, which mostly occurred at the suture line area. The majority of patients presented with mesh-related complications more than 1 year post-insertion (T4; average 3.68 ± 2.47 years). CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware that patients with vaginal mesh complications routinely exhibit complications more than 1 year after the implantation with pain as the most common presenting symptom.

Laparoscopic Paravaginal Defect Repair: Surgical Technique and a Literature Review.

Paravaginal defects, commonly seen in patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse, are due to the detachment of pubocervical fascia from the arcus tendineus fascia pelvis (ATFP), at or near its lateral attachment. The majority of anterior vaginal wall prolapse is thought to be caused by paravaginal defects. Richardson et al. first described and demonstrated the anatomy of the paravaginal defect, as well as described the initial technique of the abdominal approach to repair. Since that time, the laparoscopic approach for repair has been developed and described with success rates of laparoscopic paravaginal defect repair reported in the range of 60% to 89%. This minimally invasive approach to address anterior wall prolapse eliminates the need for a vaginal incision, reduces risk of vaginal shortening and can be completed at the same time as other laparoscopic procedures, such as hysterectomy, sacralcolpopexy, and/or Burch Urethropexy. Compared to the open abdominal approach, there is improved visualization, less risk of bleeding, and faster recovery with the laparoscopic method. Compared to an anterior colporrhaphy, laparoscopic paravaginal repair is a much more anatomic repair of lateral defects and does not result in vaginal shortening. The laparoscopic paravaginal repair should be considered as the first-line treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse caused by lateral defects, including at time of laparoscopic/robotic sacralcolpopexy.

The association between a history of concussion and variability in behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognition.

Associations between a history of concussion and variability in behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognition were assessed in college-aged adults with a history of concussion and a healthy control group, in response to a stimulus discrimination task and a more attentionally demanding flanker task. Greater intra-individual variability was observed only for behavioral indices of reaction time in response to the flanker task for those with a history of concussion. An association was also observed between the number of concussions resulting in a loss of consciousness and greater variability of reaction time regardless of the type of task. Relative to neuroelectric measures, a concussive history was associated with smaller P3 amplitude only in response to the flanker task; with no differences between groups observed in response to the oddball task or for intra-individual variability measures. Thus, increased variability associated with a history of concussion appears to be behavior and process specific. The behavioral metrics and functions assessed are important considerations for identifying subtle, yet persistent influences of concussion on cognitive performance. Further, factors such as loss of consciousness associated with a concussive injury may moderate the extent to which these increases in behavioral variability manifest. Thus, the identification of persistent cognitive impairment following concussive injuries necessitates the utilization of appropriate tasks and may be facilitated by going beyond behavioral measures of central tendency.

Sex differences in brain plasticity: a new hypothesis for sex ratio bias in autism.

Several observations support the hypothesis that differences in synaptic and regional cerebral plasticity between the sexes account for the high ratio of males to females in autism. First, males are more susceptible than females to perturbations in genes involved in synaptic plasticity. Second, sex-related differences in non-autistic brain structure and function are observed in highly variable regions, namely, the heteromodal associative cortices, and overlap with structural particularities and enhanced activity of perceptual associative regions in autistic individuals. Finally, functional cortical reallocations following brain lesions in non-autistic adults (for example, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis) are sex-dependent. Interactions between genetic sex and hormones may therefore result in higher synaptic and consecutively regional plasticity in perceptual brain areas in males than in females. The onset of autism may largely involve mutations altering synaptic plasticity that create a plastic reaction affecting the most variable and sexually dimorphic brain regions. The sex ratio bias in autism may arise because males have a lower threshold than females for the development of this plastic reaction following a genetic or environmental event.

Elevate and Uterine Preservation: Two-Year Results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of the Elevate Anterior and Apical (EAA) in the repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) when performed after previous hysterectomy and with or without uterine preservation during POP surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-two women with anterior vaginal prolapse and/or apical descent ≥ stage II were enrolled. The primary outcome was treatment failure defined as > stage II POP-Q during follow-up using the Last observed Failure Carried Forward method. Three sub-groups were analysed: baseline previous hysterectomy (N = 61); concomitant hysterectomy (N = 29), and preserved uterus/no hysterectomy (N = 51). Demographics, primary and secondary outcomes, and extrusion were compared between the groups. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Anatomic success shows significant and durable improvement at 24 months. The success for the apical compartment ranged between 93.8% and 100%. Success was slightly lower for the anterior compartment (70.8-89.1%). No statistically significant difference between the 3 subgroups. Age was the only patient characteristic to be found different between the 3 subgroups. In addition, there was no difference in overall intraoperative complications (P = 0.263). Mesh extrusion was found in all groups: 3 of 61 (4.9%) had previous hysterectomy; 4 of 29 (13.8%) had concomitant hysterectomy; and 1 of 51 (2.0%) had uterus preserved (P = 0.094). There appears to be a trend toward higher extrusion when a hysterectomy was performed with the EAA. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic success and complications for the EAA do not appear to be significantly impacted when the uterus is removed before or during surgery or preserved. There may be a trend toward increased mesh extrusion when a hysterectomy is performed. However, larger cohort studies are needed to determine if concomitant hysterectomy impact extrusion.